“……….it will rather be dangerous to see the number of boys are now turning out from all our learning institutions with having no work to do, I am sure whichever government of the day might be, it will feel rather embarrassed and even lead to blood shed”

Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardaunan Sokoto

Nigeria today as a sovereign and independent nation, celebrates its sixtieth independence anniversary gained on 1st October 1960.

When Nigeria got its independence from the colonial masters it was widely acclaimed to be the starting process for a new political landscape in an independent Nigeria, believed to advance and promote social coexistence, political liberty, economic progress as well as civil liberty.

It has never been argued that independence is a setback to a nation.

Conversely, in the case of our dear country Nigeria most people are submitting to this fact, particularly its teeming youth, whose living future direction is yet to be set on track.

Going through the period of these sixty years of independence, Nigeria’s social living standard is always bitter and worrisome.

Regrettably, most nations and countries which were far below our equals in terms of economy, social and living standard, infrastructural development, healthcare services, quality education, justice delivery. etc. Have now become ahead of us with hundred if not thousand miles.

Many believed that during the 2015 (wind blow era of change). The outstanding collective sacrifice and massive patriotic acts of putting the nation’s interest foreword in order to put its numerous administrative and political challenges to defeat, despite the diversities and pluralistic ethnic groups, tribes, languages, religious bigotry and regional sentiment, with a sense of optimism that substantial improvement could be achieved at least in some critical sectors that will ameliorate some generally affected challenges nation wide, in terms of job creation, economic uplift, quality and sound educational system and health care promotion services.

But sadly, it is now unprecedented in the history of Nigeria with its current social and political unrest, namely: bad leadership, poor and costly living condition, abject poverty, poor educational standard, joblessness, social insecurity (corruption, abduction, armed robbery, gunmen attacks & vandalism), mismanagement of resources, abuse of public and official trust, too many to mention !

POVERTY RATIO

A recent report by the World Bank Poverty Clock published in June 25th 2018 has revealed that Nigeria has over taken India as the country with most extreme poor people in the world. It shows that 86.9 million Nigerians now live in extreme poverty, represents nearly 50% of its estimated 180 million population.

Likewise, in one of the international journal on poverty and insecurity in Nigeria. Published on 31st October 2019 indicated the pervasive effect of poverty in Nigeria due to high level of curruption. It further revealed a strong connection between poverty and the rising number of insecurity challenges, holding government largely responsible for its inability to provide concrete policy formulation and implementation on poverty eradication plans in the country.

Similarly, a report by National Beareu of Statistics which captured the period between 2011-2016 on poverty level in Nigeria, revealed that poverty in Nigeria increased from 57 million to 74 million, over half of he increase was due to population growth. About 37 million of this people are from Northern Nigeria (Northwest in particular).

INSECURITY LEVEL

In the international journal on poverty and insecurity in Nigeria, Insecurity is however highlighted as breed of poverty, bordering on ethnoreligious conflict, indegene and settlers divide, armed robbery, abductions, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATION/ CHILD ABUSE

In a report by Amnesty International on Human right violation in Nigeria published in May 2019 stated, there are about 10.5 million out of school children aged between 5-14 years.While on violence against children, 6 out of 10 children experience some form of violence.

Youth are the vanguard of the societal progress, aligning with the statement of the first Northern regional premier Alhaji. Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardaunan Sokoto, that it is the most dangerous threat to any serious government to see the number of graduating youth coming out from learning institutions with no work to do.

“……….. I am sure whichever the government of the day might be will feel rather embarrassed and even lead to bloodshed”

Sir Ahmad Bello (former Premier of Northern Region)

However, It is wisely said that “a word is enough to a wise”.

The most critical menaces leading to one’s contemplation in regret of his motherland due to rising number of insecurity challenges and hopelessness as a result of bad leadership, must have significant contribution in neglecting the act of job creation for the youth and effective administrative mechenery devoid of sentiment and vested interest by “Leaders who have the fear of God with patriotism to their nation” _Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (Dan masanin Kano)_

Other criminalities all over the place leaving everybody in fear and unrestfulness have become the prevalent daily vices making headlines in our news papers, counted as :

Terrorism
Vandalism
Herdsmen clashes
Armed robbery
Gunmen attack
Kidnapping & abduction
These listed social protagonists have significant connection with joblessness, ill-political will and vested interest with some political predators.

The government seems to make funny with what claim hundred of lives on daily basis, and the leaders whom are voted in power by these innocent victims are watching in daylight with no serious effort seem to be taken.

In the same vain, the insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation are politicised and taken for granted, practical and economic corruption become the adornment of political office holders, Where are we going for God sake!

On the other hand, the fellow citizens have to discard all sort of unbecoming attritudes which characterize our daily social routines, people often engage in such socially condemnable acts in relation to one another : cheating, deceit, mischief, disrespectfulness, bullying, brutality to neighbours, dishonesty among family members, inequality in households, minority domination, sectional marginalisation and many more!

To sum it up, my independence super take does not yet call for celebrating what in reality might not be in place had the country remained under the colonial rule today, with other additional emerging obstacles threatening our collective existence as a country, breach of social peace and disharmony.

While our leaders folded their arms watching our country to drift, corruption escalates, citizens’ blood shed, mortality rate increases, human rights violated, public trust abused and poverty boomerangs.

The people who greed for power have to put the fear of God, life is not permanent and death is inevitable, nobody escapes from death, even if a person is favoured here on earth due to his position, family status, loyalties or friends………. from being punished accordingly, the final destination to arrive does not accommodate nepotism, favoritism, bias or injustice.

You the rulers will die_And the ruled will also die ( _in sudden and unexpected occasion_ )

“let thy all knowth punishment in the hereafter is inevitable”

ABDULMALIK ABUBAKAR ISA

Contact: [email protected]